Geographic dimorphism of the wild silkworm, Bombyx mandarina, in the chromosome number and the occurrence of a retroposon-like insertion in the arylphorin gene
T. Nakamura et al., Geographic dimorphism of the wild silkworm, Bombyx mandarina, in the chromosome number and the occurrence of a retroposon-like insertion in the arylphorin gene, GENOME, 42(6), 1999, pp. 1117-1120
Individuals of the wild silkworm, Bombyx mandarina, collected in South Kore
a (Taegu City) and Japan (Tsushima Islands and Fukuoka City) had the chromo
some number of 2n = 54, while those collected in China (Hangzhou City) had
the chromosome number of 2n = 56. Analysis by PCR (polymerase chain reactio
n) showed that the 66-bp-long retroposon-like insertion known in the arylph
orin gene was present in the B. mandarina specimens with 2n = 54, but not i
n those with 2n = 56. Thus, dimorphism in the chromosome number coincided w
ith the occurrence of the insertion. It is likely that the boundary dividin
g the two geographic B. mandarina populations lies somewhere in the norther
n part of the Korean Peninsula.